Shipment creation and manifesting

Shipment creation and manifesting are key processes in logistics, particularly in the context of transporting goods. Shipment creation refers to the process of preparing and documenting the details of a shipment before it is despatched to its destination, whereas manifesting is the process of creating a detailed list (manifest) of all shipments being handed over to the carrier.

The SAPIENT API has been designed to accommodate different methods of processing shipments , to fit in with the varied ways many businesses operate their despatching function. This section provides a high-level overview on the different methods available to manage when to print labels and how to manifest accurately at the end of each working day.

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Note
For more detailed information, please contact the Intersoft Customer Operations team to arrange a consultation.

Use shipment actions in Create Shipment API

Shipment actions are specific operations that can be performed on a shipment during its lifecycle. These actions allow businesses to manage and control various aspects of the shipment process.

Process

Finalises the shipment creation and prepares the shipment for transportation. A label is returned in the Create Shipment response and the shipment is ready for manifesting immediately.

Create

Initiates a new shipment entry in the system. Captures all necessary details to generate shipping documents. Does not return labels immediately - requires Print Shipment API call.

Allocate

Assigns resources (like inventory items) to the shipment for fulfilment. Returns carrier tracking number in Create Shipment response but requires Print Shipment API for labels.

Key differences

Process: Label generated immediately, ready for manifesting
Create: No immediate label or tracking number - generated when the Print Shipment API is called
Allocate: Tracking number provided immediately, label generated when Print Shipment API is called